Bag with carrying handle

Abstract

A bag formed of a flaccid material for receiving and containing merchandise, the bag being formed by a sheet of such material folded along a fold line to provide two juxtaposed or overlapping generally rectangular wall panels having the side edges thereof joined together, such fold line being tucked inwardly between such overlapping wall panels to form a gusset, and a separate strip of material folded along a fold line extending along the length thereof and disposed within the gusset to extend across the entire width thereof with the fold line of the separate strip of material lying adjacent to the inwardly tucked fold of the sheet of material, the ends of the strip of material being joined to the overlapping portions of the wall panels by a heat seal extending diagonally at a forty-five degree angle across the corners thereof. The separate strip of material may be cut and formed by accessory equipment, and then inserted in the gusset by the same apparatus used to form the gusset in conventional bag forming equipment.

I claim: 
     
       1. A bag for receiving and containing merchandise and the like, said bag comprising a sheet of flaccid material folded along a fold line to provide two juxtaposed wall panels having adjacent side edges joined to one another, said fold line being tucked inwardly between said juxtaposed wall panels forming top edges along said wall panels to form a gusset consisting of the overlapping portions of said wall panels, a separate strip of material folded along a fold line extending along the length thereof to provide side portions on opposite sides of said fold line, said strip being disposed within said gusset to extend across the width thereof with said fold line of said strip lying most closely adjacent to said inwardly tucked fold line of said sheet of flaccid material and with said side portions of said strip extending away from said inwardly tucked fold line to be respectively adjacent said overlapping portions of said wall panels, and seal means joining the side portions of said strip of material at each end thereof to the respective adjacent overlapping portions of said wall panels at seals formed in a V-shaped pattern defined by lines extending diagonally between said side edges and said top edges of said wall panels whereby the filling of said bag with merchandise will result in said wall panels assuming an open disposition having an end panel formed by said gusset and with said strip extending across said end panel and adjacent thereto in an unfolded flattened condition to provide a handle for lifting said carrying said bag with the weight of said merchandise being borne at said seals. 
     
     
       2. A bag as defined in claim 1 and characterized further in that said wall panels are rectangular in shape with said top edges between the side edges thereof in perpendicular relation thereto, and in that said pattern-defining lines extend at an angle of essentially forty-five degrees with respect to both said side edges and said top edges. 
     
     
       3. A bag as defined in claim 2 and characterized further in that each said pattern-defining line extends from said side edges of said wall panels at a point on said side edges adjacent to said fold line of said strip. 
     
     
       4. A bag as defined in claim 3 and characterized further in that said fold line of said strip is disposed immediately adjacent said inwardly tucked fold line of said sheet of flaccid material. 
     
     
       5. A bag as defined in claim 4 and characterized further in that the unfolded width of said strip at its ends is substantially equal to the combined length of said overlapping portions of said wall panels, whereby load imposed on said seals will be evenly distributed along said pattern-defining lines across the width of the bag when carried by said strip. 
     
     
       6. A bag as defined in claim 3 and characterized further in that said fold line of said strip is disposed at a predetermined spacing from said inwardly tucked fold line of said sheet of flaccid material. 
     
     
       7. A bag as defined in claim 2 and characterized further in that each said pattern-defining line extends from said side edge of said wall panels at a point intermediate said fold line of said strip and said top edge of said wall panels. 
     
     
       8. A bag as defined in claim 7 and characterized further in that said fold line of said strip is disposed immediately adjacent said inwardly tucked fold line of said sheet of flaccid material. 
     
     
       9. A bag as defined in claim 8 and characterized further by perforation lines extending in said side portions of said strip from each said intermediate point to said fold line of said strip for separation of said strip from the portion of said wall panel side edges between said intermediate point and said fold line of said strip when a predetermined lifting force is exerted on said strip to prevent concentration of said force at said wall panel side edge portions. 
     
     
       10. A bag as defined in claim 9 and characterized further in that the unfolded width of said strip at its ends is substantially equal to the combined length of said overlapping portions of said wall panels, whereby load imposed on said seals will be evenly distributed along said pattern-defining lines across the corresponding width of the bag when carried by said strip. 
     
     
       11. A bag as defined in claim 2 and characterized further in that said strip is shaped to provide said opposite ends thereof with a greater width than the intermediate portion thereof between said opposite ends. 
     
     
       12. A bag as defined in claim 1 and characterized further in that said sheet of material and said strip of material both consist of a heat sensitive plastic material, and in that said seal means consists of a heat seal formed along said pattern-defining lines. 
     
     
       13. A method of forming a bag having a handle therefor, said method including the steps of: (a) folding a sheet of flaccid material to a disposition at which it forms into juxtaposed wall panels having two side edges, a closed edge formed by said fold, and an open bottom edge;   (b) tucking said closed edge inwardly between said juxtaposed wall panels forming top edges along said wall panels to form a gusset consisting of the overlapping portions of said wall panels;   (c) folding a separate strip of material along a fold line extending along the length of said strip to provide side portions on opposite sides of said fold line;   (d) inserting said folded strip of material into said gusset to extend across the width thereof with said fold line of said strip of material disposed most closely adjacent to said closed edge of said sheet tucked between said wall panels and with said side portions of said strip extending away from said closed edge respectively adjacent said overlapping portions of said wall panels;   (e) joining together, at each side of said gusset, the side portions of said strip at each end thereof to the respective adjacent overlapping portions of said wall panels at seals formed in a V-shaped pattern defined by lines extending diagonally between said side edges and said top edges of said wall panels; and   (f) joining together the adjacent side edges of said wall panels, whereby the filling of said bag with merchandise will result in said wall panels assuming an open disposition having an end panel formed by said gusset and with said handle strip extending across said end panel and adjacent thereto in an unfolded flattened condition to provide a handle for lifting and carrying said bag with the weight of said merchandise being borne at said seals.   
     
     
       14. A method of forming a bag as defined in claim 13 and characterized further in that said sheet of material and said strip of material consist of a heat sensitive plastic material, and by the further step of inserting a sheet of insulating material between the side portions of said strip of material within said gusset, and heat sealing said side portions of said strip of material to the adjacent two overlapping layers of said sheet of material with said insulating sheet preventing said side portions of said strip from being sealed to one another. 
     
     
       15. A method of forming a bag as defined in claim 13 and further characterized in that said side edges of said wall panels are parallel, said folding and tucking cause said top edges of said wall panels to be oriented in perpendicular relation to said side edges, and said joining together of said strip side portions and said wall panel overlapping portions includes forming said seals to orient said pattern-defining lines at an angle of essentially forty-five degrees with respect to both said side edges and said top edges. 
     
     
       16. A bag as defined in claim 1 and characterised further in that said seals are formed as continuous seal lines extending diagonally between said side edges and said top edges of said wall panels along said pattern-defining lines.